DOLE-7 sounds alarm vs bogus safety trainings

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Labor and Employment-7 has cautioned all of those who want to undergo the mandatory safety trainings to be vigilant and to always check on the website of the Occupational Safety Health whether or not the Safety Training Organizations or STOs offering trainings are legitimate.

DOLE-7 Director Salome Siaton, who sits as chairperson of the DOLE Regional Coordinating Committee-7 where the Occupational Safety and Health-7 is a member, said this as the mandatory safety training conducted by the OSHC is now online.

Engr. Gines Timosa of the OSHC-Regional Extension Unit-7 said that presently, the Training for Safety Officer I is being conducted online and being facilitated in the meantime by the OSHC-Central Office, while the facilities at the regional level are being upgraded.

He reminded those interested to take the training to be wary of other safety training organizations as not all are accredited by the OSHC.

“Not all safety training organizations are authorized to conduct mandatory safety trainings unless they’ve passed the qualificatory screening made the OSHC-Central Office,” said Timosa.

Siaton added that normally in Central Visayas, they have the OSHC conducting trainings as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Network (OSHNET-Central Visayas) and a few others like the Cebu Contractors Association.

She added that due to the present situation, trainings and seminars or even meetings are now done online in order to observe the safety and health measures during the pandemic.

The safety trainings normally conducted would include the following: Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training (BOSH); Construction Safety and Health Training (COSH); Construction Safety Training; Appreciation Course on OSH; Appreciation Course for a Drug-Free Workplace; Crane Safety; Forklift Safety; Training on Managing Emerging Health Issues in the Workplace; Seminar on the Safe use of Chemicals at Work; Training on Industrial Ventilation; Work Environment Measurement Training Workshop; Training on Assessment Teams for a Drug-Free Workplace; Training on the Work-Relatedness of Diseases; Training on Ergonomics in the Workplace; Scaffold Safety Training; Training of Trainers on OSH; and Training for Fire Safety Practitioners.

Almost all of the services of the OSHC REU-7 are done online except for the interview of the OSHC practitioner.  KQD (FREEMAN)